Merchandise handling and storing structure



Oct. 18, 1966 A. E. SMALL MERCHANDISE HANDLING AND STORING STRUCTURE Filed May 19, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l I NVENTOR.

194 mean 5. 5/1/714 Oct. 18, 1966 A. E. SMALL MERCHANDISE HAPIDLING AND STORING STRUCTURE Fil ed May 19, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 U M R. m M N 5 W M w. 5 MW 0 L z A i m E m M M Q w m QM. \QMK UN\ h h\ Oct. 18, 1966 A. E. SMALL 3,279,617

' MERCHANDISE HANDLING AND STORING STRUCTURE Filed May 19, 1964 :3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR H4 FRED E. Snmu.

%AA2/M7 United States Patent Alfred E. Small, 6124 Lake Shore Drive, Evansville, Ind.

Filed May 19, 1964, Ser. No. 368,495

1 Claim. (Cl. 21127) The present invention relates to a merchandise handling and storing structure, and more particularly to a new and novel combination unit for the aforementioned purposes which provides results which have not been available from devices in use heretofore.

As is known, the storage of items of merchandise, particularly those which might be termed large or bulky, has created a difficult problem, not only in physically accomplishing same, but because of the growing scarcity of warehouse space. The preceding is particularly true in the event of furniture manufacturers and wholesalers, and especially in the instance of large upholstered units typically found in present day homes and offices.

Previously, such merchandise was stored on shelves or racks, being placed in their normal seating position, and, movement of the latter to such a position required various pieces of equipment. Additionally, because of the dimension problem, oftentimes shelf or rack space was wasted because an oversized furniture unit took space which several regular size units would customarily fill, resulting in a useless storage condition.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a new and novel combination merchandise handling and storing structure which, when serving one function, permits ready movement of an upholstered unit onto and from a transporting vehicle for storage either in the vertical or the horizontal position, and when serving its other function, readily permits merchandise storage, utilizing the same basic unit, in a multitude of efficient and variable storage arrangements. At the outset, the applicants instant invention is highly susceptible to changes, due to important flexible assembly characteristics which it provides, and, in this regard, can be utilized with various dimensioned units, stacked to any desired levels, and made to custom fit any available storage area for a particular merchandise item.

Briefly, the applicants new and novel merchandise handling and storaging structure is defined by tubular components, assembled by pin and sleeve relationships, where a base frameunit is provided to permit custom dimensioning .to satisfy any furniture requirement. Additionally, the instant invention employs upstanding hooks which are adapted to catch elements disposed on the inner frame of an upholstered unit for positive vertical handling and storing. In other words, with the a'forestated combination of components, the upholstered unit can be readily and effectively positioned on the instant structure through an approach not heretofore in use.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a new and novel merchandise handling and storing structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel merchandise handling and storing-structure which is adaptable to any required merchandise dimensions, providing a high degree of versatility in use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel merchandise handling and storing structure which readily cooperates with the merchandise being carried to effect ease in handling, as well as storage, and in any desired storage direction, i.e. vertical or horizontal.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel merchandise handling and storing structure which is readily assembled to define a various number of storage devices, being not only customized to the furniture, but also to the available storage area.

ice

A yet further and more general object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel merchandise storing and handling structure which is conveniently made from a number of commonly available components, locked together in a positive fashion to provide not only durability, but safety as well, in use.

Other objects and a better understanding of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, showing the applicants new and novel merchandise handling and storing structure in a vertical storing position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view showing structural details of the instant invention, taken at line 22 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is fragmentary view in section showing still further structural details of the invention at hand, taken at line 33 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is fragmentary view, partly in section, showing still other structural details of the device of FIG. 1, taken at line 44 of such figure and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view, partly fragmentary, showing the instant invention serving a typical storing function; and,

FIG. 6 is a view in front elevation of a typical multilayered storage arrangement in accordance with the teachings of the applicants new and novel merchandise handling and storing structure.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, the applicants new and novel merchandise handling and storing structure comprises an H-frame section 12 defined by generally parallel hollow tubular frame members 12a and 12b, interconnected in their mid-area by a tubular frame member 12c. The tubular frame members 12a and 12b each preferably have a series of openings 12d therethrough adapted to receiving locking pins 14, where the latter also extend through openings 15e in tubular frame members 15a and 15b which are adapted to be interchangeably received in the tubular frame members 12a and 12b. The supporting frames 15, of which the aforesaid tubular frame members 15a and 15b are a part, also comprise interconnecting tubular frame members and 15d.

The H-frame section 12 also includes two upstanding elements 12e, each of which is adapted to receive a hooking member 19 respectively disposed, as by screw means 19a, for example, on the inside surface of a front rail 20a and a rear rail (not shown) of an upholstered unit. On the other hand, to complete the assembly of the basic units, hollow sleeves 22 are provided in the outside angles of the supporting frame 15, i.e. in the outside angle between tubular frame members 15a and 150, 15a and 15d, 15b and 150, and 15b and 15d, being typically positioned by welding. Each of the sleeves 22 has openings 22a thereon for receiving pins 24 where, if desired, the latter may be interchangeable with the pins 14.

In any event, the handling structure of FIG. 1 comprises, by way of illustration, two supporting frames 15 having an H-frame section 12 therebetween, with the selective openings 12d and 15s, and the pins 14 used there-:

with, providing over-all important latitude insofar as the dimension of the carried merchandise is concerned. Disposed and locked in the sleeves 22 at one end of one of the supporting frames 15, and serving either as a support or a pushing control, is an assembly typically defined as two converging tubular elements 26 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1) forming, with the tubular frame member 150, a triangle, where a third tubular frame member 27, positioned at the apex thereof, extends in a direction away from the merchandise on the structure.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the tubular frame members 15a and 15b are each adapted to receive a caster assembly 30, where the extremities of each caster assembly 30 and the tubular frame member 27 are in the same plane so that, when in vertical storage,.the over-all weight is evenly distributed.

In use, and considering upholstered furniture as the merchandise, the upholstered unit is disposed on the combined supporting frames 15 and the H-frame section 12..

Typically, the feet of the upholstered unit are disposed outside of the boundaries of the assembled structure, and, as should be readily apparent from FIG. 2, the end rails 20b of the upholstered unit bear the principal weight thereof. The hooking members 19 within the upholstered unit encircle the upstanding elements 122 on the H-frame section 12, so that as the mounted upholstered unit is moved from what might be termed a horizontal (or normal seating) position to a vertical storage position, positive support control is achieved.

Referring now to FIG. 5, another typical storage arrangement of supporting frames 15 is disclosed, wherein multi-layer storage is provided. As an indication of the versatility, the second storage layer, in this typical atlernative arrangement, is normal with reference to the first storage layer. More particularly, an elongated tubular rod 31 is received in each of the sleeves 22, where pins 24 extend through such sleeves and corresponding openings (not shown) through the rod 31 for positioning the aforesaid second storage layer of supporting frames 15. In that like reference numerals are utilized, where applicable, throughout the present description, it is believed the showing of FIG. is generally self-explanatory, butit might be noted that, as described hereabove, the tubular frame members 15a and 15b of the supporting frames 15 adjacent the H-frame section 12 are maintained in locking relationship therewith through the use of pins 14.

With reference now to FIG. 6, another multi-layer storage arrangement is disclosed, where, in this instance, supporting frames 15 are joined together vertically through the tubular rods 31 which extend through the sleeve 22 and pin 24 assemblies, as described hereabove. In this storage arrangement, and for further variance, single supporting frames 15 may be employed, i.e. without the H- frarne section 12, where the latter may be used, by way of illustration, in the interconnecting storage unit representing the third or top storage layer.

The representation of FIG. 6, as well as that of FIG. 5, serves to illustrate the important versatility provided by the applicant herein, in that by utilizing the same basic components, storage arrangements can be devised to satisfy not only merchandise dimensioning, but available storage area, as well. Obviously, in addition to what might be termed the standard module links of each supporting frame 15, various other sizes can also be made available, depending upon particular application.

From the preceding, therefore, it should be apparent that the applicants invention represents an important advance in merchandise 'handling and storage, where the same basic components are employed in serving both of these functions. Not only is vertical storage readily achieved through a new and novel arrangement which provides for merchandise handling as well, but a multiplicity of storage approaches is also readily available to the user.

The merchandise handling and storing structure described hereabove is, of course, susceptible to various changes within .the spirit of the invention. For example, proportioning may be varied, .as well as the particular disclosed element locking arrangements. Thus, the preceding description should be considered illustrative, and not as limiting the scope of the following claim:

I claim:

A merchandise handling and storing arrangement comprising a first frame section defined by two generally parallel side members, and at least one member interconnecting said side members,'a second frame section defined bytwo generally parallel side members, and at least one member interconnecting said side members, a third frame section defined by two generally parallel side members, and at least one member interconnecting said side members, said side members of said second and said third frame sections respectively engaging opposite ends of said side members of said first frame section in telescopic relationship, means releasably securing together said side members of said second and third frame members and said side members of said first frame section, sleeve members disposed normally to the plane of said side members and said at least one interconnecting member of at least said second frame section, a fourth frame section defined by two generally parallel side members, and at least one member. interconmeeting said side members, and sleeve members disposed normally to the plane of said side members and said at least one interconnecting member, rods extending through said sleeve members of said at least said second frame section and said fourth frame section, and'means releasably securing together said sleeve members" of said at least said second frame section and said fourth frame section and said rods for stacking said at least said second frame section with respect to said fourth frame section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 801,051 10/ 1905 Smith 248335 955,014 4/1910 Tandy 211-27 1,747,026 2/1930 Phillips 21144 1,841,412 1/1932 Leicht 2ll7l 2,469,547 5/ 1949 Carter 211-27 2,805,776 9/ 1957 Levitin 21127 2,897,013 7/ 1959 Delp 52645 2,909,236 10/1959 Rabelos 182-26 3,082,843 3/ 1963 Leonard 18282 FOREIGN PATENTS 222,660 12/ 1958 Australia. 1,064,516 12/ 1953 France. 1,277,421 10/1961 France.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

